When the Rams selected Terrell Burgess at No. 104, he was announced by Roger Goodell as a defensive back out of Utah. And that’s exactly how he should be described. Not as a safety, not as a cornerback, but as a defensive back.
That’s because Burgess is more than just a safety, which is how he was categorized by many draft analysts after playing that position for the most part last season. But if you look at how his playing time was distributed on defense, you’ll begin to see just how versatile he is.
Last season at Utah, Burgess played most of his snaps near the line of scrimmage as a box safety or nickel cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus. He also lined up at outside cornerback some, and even on the defensive line in Utah’s sub-packages.
That sort of versatility is extremely valuable in a defensive back.
Newly added #LARams safety Terrell Burgess lined up at these spots in 2019:
🔹 FS – 133 snaps
🔹 Box – 285 snaps
🔹 CB – 27 snaps
🔹 Nickel – 272 snaps
🔹 D-Line – 66 snapsVersatility is the name of the game folks, especially with your 3rd safety. Shoutout @PFF for the stats.
— Sosa K (@QBsMVP) April 25, 2020
Burgess’ arrival as the No. 3 safety will surely provide depth at that position. However, he’ll also compete at nickel cornerback, where Nickell Robey-Coleman has played for the last three seasons. But with Robey-Coleman gone, the Rams could lean on Burgess in the slot, as he’ll compete with David Long Jr. – last year’s third-round pick.
The best part about Burgess’ game is that he shouldn’t be pigeonholed to one spot. The Rams shouldn’t treat him like a traditional safety, and they’re not expected to. Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley stressed the importance of versatility in the secondary, and that’s something Burgess certainly provides. Not to mention, he’s pretty darn good in coverage.
At 104, #LARams select S Terrell Burgess out of Utah
In 2019, Burgess (min 300 snaps):
– Had a 90.4(!) Coverage Grade ranking 10th among all secondary players
– Earned an 85.3 OVR Defense Grade (30th among all secondary players)
– Logged 10 coverage stops (T-28 among Safeties) pic.twitter.com/4L4NGdJPK6— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) April 25, 2020
With Burgess, John Johnson and Taylor Rapp in the mix, the Rams can play a lot of “big nickel” packages, which substitutes a safety for a cornerback in nickel groupings. In those instances, the Rams would have one inside linebacker and five defensive backs on the field. With Burgess, he’s a blend of cornerback and safety, which can make things tough on opposing offenses when they break the huddle.
He can play deep, but so can Rapp and Johnson. He can match up with tight ends and backs, but so can Rapp and Johnson. The Rams have three safeties who can do a variety of things in the secondary, which will keep teams on their toes.
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